Juratovac bail decision expected next week

Attorney: Incident was 'self-defense shooting'

Wednesday’s bond hearing for Nathaniel David Juratovac provided a preview for a possible trial in the attempted murder case.

What it didn’t do was provide a ruling on the bond issue.

It was an afternoon filled with arguments on several motions and a parade of character witnesses for the defense.

In fact, there was so much evidence presented and so many legal issues to consider that Traynor said he’d need the weekend to review everything. His decision on the issue of bail is expected early next week.

Juratovac is a former Flagler County Beach Police Department officer who is charged with attempted murder. Police reports indicate Juratovac admitted to shooting Jared Parkey after a road rage incident March 29 on U.S. 1 South near Watson Road.

The defendant was also arraigned on an amended charge of attempted first-degree murder premeditated.

Juratovac’s attorneys, Patrick Canan and Andrew Morgan, are asking Judge Michael Traynor to set a “reasonable” bail amount to allow Juratovac to stay with his family until the case is resolved.

Canan asked that the bail amount not exceed $100,000 because the Juratovac family probably couldn’t raise much more than $10,000. (People can obtain a bail bond from a bond agent for 10 percent of the total bail amount.)

Meanwhile, the state is arguing that Juratovac’s actions put the public in danger; therefore, he should remain detained during the judicial process.

“Our position is, based on the conduct he’s exhibited, it’s clear that he has a hot temper,” said assistant state attorney Russell Bausch, who has been assigned to the case from the 18th Judicial Circuit.

“These actions should suggest that Mr. Juratovac is a danger.”

That’s the opposite of what the defense tried to show Wednesday. There were seven character witnesses who testified on behalf of Juratovac — including several well-known business owners.

Many witnesses, including former city commissioner Bill Lennon, described Juratovac as “kind-hearted” or “soft-hearted.”

“This is pretty shocking to me,” Lennon said of the attempted murder charge.

In addition, Juratovac’s wife, Robin, who is a St. Johns County Sheriff’s deputy, took the stand and had to lay out her family’s financial struggles and marital difficulties.

Even through that, Juratovac was able to maintain his composure during the testimony.

The state entered as evidence transcripts or audio files of interviews with Robin Juratovac, Parkey and Parkey’s wife, Ashley. Also added was the arrest affidavit prepared by Sheriff’s Office Det. Thomas Marmo.

Marmo took the stand, and both sides used his testimony or reports to show that the other party was the main aggressor in the incident.

Among the key elements coming out of Marmo’s testimony (according to what was said or was contained in a report):

■ Both Robin Juratovac and Ashley Parkey pleaded with their husbands to stop driving aggressively toward the other man.

■ One of the bullets fired by Juratovac passed through Parkey and struck the back panel of his vehicle, not far from where Parkey’s child was seated.

■ Both drivers had “brake checked” each other at some point before they were eventually involved in a crash.

■ Robin Juratovac did not take out her service weapon.

■ Juratovac took out his gun earlier in the incident, but his wife told him to put it away.

■ Parkey threw a “half-empty” water jug at Juratovac’s vehicle just before the vehicles collided.

In the end, Canan argued that because the burden of proof is on the state to show beyond a reasonable doubt that Juratovac is guilty of the charge in order to deny bail, then Traynor should obviously grant it.

“I think the record speaks for itself that this is a self-defense shooting,” Canan said.

He said it’s an issue for a jury to decide. In the meantime, Canan said Juratovac should be allowed to be home to work on his case and help his wife with the pressure-washing business they own. Because he worked in law enforcement, Juratovac is being held in a detention facility in Clay County.

Bausch said the state believes Juratovac is too dangerous to be released. However, if bail is going to be allowed, he asked for an amount of $500,000 and “a lot of conditions.”

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Parkey had a role in this. Can the Record include what charges Mr. Parkey is facing? (IF ANY!) Sounds to me like this should be a wash. Both men endangered their own family by acting like irresponsible jerks. Is the State biased toward former police officer? Hhmmm.

water jug vs firearm not a good match up.
Both idiots but one a little more than the other one firing into a vehicle being a one time law enforcement officer youwould think he would know better and have more self control should never have been in this type situation to start with back off call for help wife being a S.O. officer should have taken more control of her husband. I feel he needs to stay in jail.
The other driver should also be charged with something too he being a firefighter should also not have gotten into this type of situation putting his family in danger even if the other person had not fired a shot he was an idiot could have wrecked killed his family or some other innocent person or persons..

Parkey was not charged with the 2nd degree felony that he committed, nor will he in the future. The SAO likes to take the path of least resistance and charging Juratovac was the easiest thing to do. It doesn't matter if he acted out of self defense or out of anger, he had the gun and he admitted to firing it. Parkey on the other hand admitted to his part in the incident and also to escalating the situation but the ex cop of course is an easier target than the honorable fireman.

If you ever have to defend yourself, count on going to jail until you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were in fear. The Stand Your Ground Law is a joke.

An ex-cop gets involved in road rage incident, and then fires his gun into a vehicle occupied with a child. Wow! Ask any Law Enforcement Officer what he or she thinks about that. That guy is an idiot and should be in jail. An ex-cop has lots of training, knows the law better than anyone else, and yet he ends up in this mess. He is also the guy who was charged with perjury, false imprisonment and falsifying reports while he was a Flagler County Deputy. I guess that's why he is a FORMER Flagler County Deputy.

His wife, an ACTIVE St. Johns County Deputy, should be charged for not taking proper police action during the commission of a felony. That was her husband committing the felony, firing into a vehicle and hitting the driver of that vehicle 2 times. Like I said, Wow! And then the defense attorney tries to convince the judge he is not a danger to the community. Well, he was certainly a danger the night of the incident. Oh, that's right, he was defending himself against a jug of water that was thrown at his car earlier. Hmmmm. Don't even attempt to bring up the stand your ground law, that is just a very silly argument. Death by water jug, yeah, right.